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NBA Trade Rumors: Russell Westbrook Should Stay With OKC

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 28, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after dunking against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre. Oklahoma City defeated Toronto 119-100. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after dunking against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre. Oklahoma City defeated Toronto 119-100. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Western Conference guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder (0) celebrates after being named MVP of the NBA All Star Game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Western Conference guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder (0) celebrates after being named MVP of the NBA All Star Game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

2. The Reality of Replacing Superstars

The general consensus around the NBA is that the Orlando Magic got the better end of the Dwight Howard trade. Orlando acquired the likes of Nikola Vucevic and Elfrid Payton, and Howard didn’t even re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Yet, despite the widespread belief that Orlando actually won that trade, it hasn’t been to the playoffs since trading Howard in 2012.

That’s the harsh reality in the risky business of trading superstars. For every Kevin Love trade, through which the Minnesota Timberwolves nabbed Andrew Wiggins, there’s a Howard trade, where the return isn’t quite as sensational as it seems.

Even if Orlando does make the playoffs in 2017, let’s be real: if the trade was as great as it seemed, it wouldn’t have taken the Magic five years to get back to the postseason.

By trading Russell Westbrook, the Oklahoma City Thunder would be losing a superstar in his prime. Even if Oklahoma City were to acquire a surplus of draft picks, the team acquiring Westbrook won’t be lottery-bound.

Losing a superstar for nothing is a cardinal sin, but unless the return is mind-blowing, then Oklahoma City should take its chances on re-signing Westbrook.

Next: Lost In The Commotion...

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